Hennessey’s town board approved paperwork for a matching grant application to deal with storm drainage problems from Walnut Street east to Mitchell Road between Oklahoma Avenue south to First and Second streets.

If approved, the Community Development Block Grant, would fund $150,000 of Cowan Group Engineering’s $300,072.50 estimate.

Town Administrator Tiffany Tillman told the board last Thursday night the grant could cover phase one of a two-phase, $600,000 project.

The second phase would include drainage problems on Third, Fourth and Fifth streets on the east side of town.

NODA grant administrator, Jennifer Firgard, was on hand for a public hearing and to provide paperwork to complete the town’s application.

Waterline bids

The board routinely voted to advertise for bids to upgrade four-inch water lines to six-inch lines on two water wells that run into the town’s water plant southeast of town. No bid opening date was given during the meeting.

The estimated project cost $82,103.40 and the town received a notice in December that it received a $45,000 Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) grant.

The grant comes through the state Department of Commerce and is administered through NODA.

Spring Cleanup April 10-19

Hennessey utility customers will be allowed to dump free at the town’s site on Cemetery Road during the Townwide Spring Cleanup April 10-19. Customers must present a recent utility bill in order to dump free.

Personnel

The board hired Bryann (Burch) Duffey as a fulltime police dispatcher and Kelly (Reeves) Miller as a part-time dispatcher. Police Chief Hank Weber made the recommendations and the board voted in open session.

Other business

Approved were:

• 2018-19 audit. Tillman said four of the purchases auditors pulled did not have purchase orders. She said they were routine utility bills and didn’t know it was necessary. She now requires all departments to make purchase orders. “They aren’t happy about it,” she said.

• Three resolutions approving complete street, workplace wellness and safe routes to school as part of a state Health Department Wellness Program, said Blair Coughlan, wellness coordinator for Blaine and Kingfisher counties. This would allow the town to receive a 20 percent matching grant as part of the state’s Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust.

Tillman said if the board adopted the resolutions as an ordinance it would require no smoking in town vehicles, Police Chief Hank Weber said, and no smoking within 25 feet of a municipal facility.

“You can’t even smoke in your car in a hospital parking lot,” said Vice Mayor Clif Vogt.

Board member Wes Hardin said one of the resolutions required there would be no sale of tobacco products except in areas zoned for retail. “Pretty soon you’ll be able to buy marijuana anywhere, but not cigarettes,” Hardin said.

• Fire department’s purchase of a $10,338.52 washer/dryer from Advantage Laundry Systems, Tulsa. It is specifically designed to clean bunker gear. Funds from Enel Green Power Energy’s $15,000 donation to the HFD will pay for the equipment.

All board members were present for the March 12 meeting: Mayor Bert Gritz, Keith Meek, Richard Simunek, Vogt and Hardin.